Millennia ago the alternate universe of the Void came into alignment with that of humanity, touching the kingdom of Dorlander and providing the Void demons a path to subjugate mankind. The Vale was created as a buffer between the two planes of existence by He Who Is. Chosen from among the best in Dorlander and abroad, men and women received the power to become the magic-wielding Guardians of the Vale.
Guardians of the Vale are the stories of one generation of guardians who face a new and far more devious threat.
A Prince of Her Own, Book #1 in the Guardians of the Vale
By Cailin Briste
Available for Pre-order
in the boxed set
Once Upon a Rebel Fairytale
https://books2read.com/rebelfairytale
Available for Pre-orderin the boxed set
Once Upon a Rebel Fairytale
https://books2read.com/rebelfairytale
Her magic is weak. His is strong.
Her blood is pure. His is not.
She must marry another. He can love no other.
One last night of freedom and then Aileene must marry. Her duty is clear. It doesn’t allow for a man, half-human, half-guardian, whose love she must deny.
Excerpt:
“Help me choose.” Aileene waved a hand in the air. “The emeralds or the diamonds.”
“The diamonds. Put them on and let’s go.” His dark blue eyes snapped at her in the mirror.
Scowling at him, she pulled his choice around her neck to clasp it and slipped the earrings in place. The brilliant gemstones did match her coloring best, their sparkle enhancing her aloof beauty. Her looks were all anyone ever noticed about her. So she’d give them their ice queen and reap the reward even though the fruit she gleaned from her efforts had become less sweet over the years. She pasted on a dazzling smile and threw her shoulders back. “Why do you have to be so difficult? I wait for this night all year. I want to be perfect.” She took the hand Luca offered and rose.
“You always look perfect, and you damn well know it. Any man you desire will be unable to resist your charms. And please don’t instigate any duels. It quite upset Mother last year. I think she’d actually punish you if you did it twice in a row.”
She pursed her lips. “Things did get out of hand. But how was I to know the duke and the earl were mortal enemies?”
“Because I warned you.”
Aileene waved his statement away. “There are hundreds of titled gentlemen at the Conclave Ball. How am I supposed to remember who’s who.” Really the human kingdom had so many principalities and dukedoms and earldoms and whatever other ’doms.
“Someday you will cause real harm if you don’t stop acting like a frivolous fool. Our duty is to watch over those nameless men, their wives, and their children, not to foment discord among them. I shouldn’t have to remind you. You’re better than that.”
Her lips pressed in a thin line, she refused to respond. She hadn’t meant for the duke and earl to fight over her. She had danced with the earl, and when the duke came to claim her for the next dance, he’d said something. The earl took offense, and the duel was on.
It was really low of Luca to bring up duty. Duty be damned. If there ever were a real threat to the humans, she wouldn’t be called on to come to their rescue. Her powers were so weak they limited her to the workings of a five-year-old.
He appeared to regret his words, because his face softened. “What about Vander? I thought he told you not to go.”
She lifted her chin. “Vander is not in charge of my life.” She twirled a finger before her. “Shall we?”
Luca frowned and made a gesture. A portal materialized before them, swirling with multicolored light before resolving into the image of a darkened arbor outside the palace in Faience. He offered Aileene his arm, and the pair stepped through together. Another hand movement closed the portal. They moved from the concealing latticework covered with flowering vines onto a path.
Available for Pre-order in the boxed set
Once Upon a Rebel Fairytale
https://books2read.com/rebelfairytale
Once Upon a Rebel Fairytale
https://books2read.com/rebelfairytale
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